Hypoglycemic Effect of Aqueous Extract of Cashew Plant Leaves (Anacardium occidentale) on Alloxan Induced Albino Rats

Abstract

Anacardium occidentale L. (Anacardiaceae) is used in South Cameroon as well as in other tropical countries by traditional practitioners as a folk remedy for treatment of diabetes mellitus. The antidiabetic potential of the plant extracts in alloxan induced diabetic rats was demonstrated. The aim of the current study was to investigate the antidiabetic effects of aqueous extract of the leaves of A. occidentale on diabetic rats. The rats were grouped into four (4) groups, the first group served as control, second group was the induced group without treatment and the other groups were induced and treated with 100 mg/kg and 200mg/kg of the plant extract respectively. At the end of the experimental period of seven days, fasting blood glucose levels were estimated in the control, induced and treated rats and was found to be 144.45±1.54, 177.1±3.07, 160.2±3.29 and 142.9±3.89 In that order. The administration of extract showed that the extract treatment has a significant effect in the decrease of glucose level (P 0.05). This is in conformity to the treatment with the standard drug Pioglitazone. These results demonstrate significant antidiabetic potential of the extract of leaves of A. occidentale, justifying the use of plant in the indigenous system of medicine. Further studies for investigating the specific compound(s) responsible for such beneficial role in diabetes would open new outlook in the therapy of type 2 diabetes.